Mail Jimmy Greenhoff article

[FullerMagic]

www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=514496&in_page_id=1779

How proud Jimmy swapped Wembley for the warehouse
By IAN LADYMAN - More by this author » Last updated at 21:53pm on 14th February 2008



How bad does it have to get before you sell your medals? How low do you have to sink? Is it when the house is repossessed? Or when the taunts in the warehouse get too much?

"Hey Greenhoff! You're not playing in the f*****g FA Cup Final now, are you?"

Happily for Jimmy Greenhoff — veteran of two FA Cup finals — the moment never came. But it was close. "I lost everything 12 years ago," former Manchester United forward Greenhoff told Sportsmail this week. "My business, my house and almost my health. I worked in a warehouse for a while and the taunts were pretty bad. I hated it. It was rubbish, brutal.

"And yes I could have sold the medals. I thought about it. It would have helped. But how could I? My son would not have forgiven me. He loves that winner's medal even more than I do. And what would the fans have thought?

"That medal belongs to them, too. They supported me and United all the way. Paid good money to help us win the FA Cup. How could I flog it?"

Many have cashed in, of course. Some have had good reason, others have not. But from a career that spanned 20 years and seven English clubs, Greenhoff treasures his FA Cup finals the most.

In 1977 Greenhoff was credited with the winning goal after Lou Macari's shot flew in off his chest to enable United to beat Liverpool 2-1 and derail an Anfield treble bid. Two years later, he was exhausted and out of form as a late United comeback could not prevent Arsenal winning 3-2.

He has no scrapbooks, no cuttings and has not even got the shirt he wore in 1977. That was stolen from the Wembley dressing room. But he has his medals and his memories. They are crystal clear.

"That competition was everything to us," he recalled ahead of tomorrow's Manchester United versus Arsenal tie at Old Trafford.

"I can still see it all. I lost in two semis with Stoke (1971 and 1972), both times against Arsenal, and another with Leeds. I cried my heart out. It almost destroyed me. So to get to a final at last in 1977 was a dream come true. I had waited for it ever since watching the Matthews Final in 1953."

Greenhoff will be at Old Trafford as a corporate host tomorrow as Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger rest players ahead of Champions League commitments next week. It symbolises the ongoing decline of the FA Cup.

"It's to do with money because these days the Premier League is everything," said Greenhoff.

"But we have not helped ourselves. Playing semi-finals at Wembley devalued the final right away.

"And now we have managers resting players. All I can say is that if I had been left out of a single FA Cup game, I would have knocked on the manager's door and asked why. I think Wayne Rooney is the same. He looks angry every time he is so much as substituted. But I am not sure they are all like that."

Greenhoff's life remains less than comfortable. The fall-out from a failed insurance venture in the 1990s continues to affect him. At 61, he works nights at a pharmaceutical company in Stoke. There are regrets but no bitterness.

"Rio Ferdinand earns more in a week than I did in my career," said Greenhoff, who was collecting £250 a week when he scored the winner in 1977. "I could do with some of that! But good luck to them. I wouldn't have turned it down."

On the dark days, the down days that he admits to, he leans on his wife Joan and dotes on grandson Marcus. He has fallen out with his brother and former United team-mate Brian but there are always the memories to help him through.

"I still can't believe somebody nicked my shirt in 1977," he reflected. "After we won the game it was bedlam in the dressing room. Everyone was in the bath. Players, staff, kit men. And when we got back to Old Trafford my bloody strip wasn't there.

"Ten years later I was doing an engagement in Cleethorpes and this bloke comes up and says, 'Jimmy, it was me. I took your shirt'. He was just a member of the public. Walked in and took it just like that. He offered it back to me but I was so taken by his honesty I said he could keep it. I still can't believe I said that. I would love that shirt back now. Maybe that guy may read this and call me up."

A remarkable tale. But was that shirt really worn by the winning goalscorer? Wasn't it Macari's goal really? "I can't believe Lou has started saying on TV that it was his goal," smiled Greenhoff. "Seriously, he has. I really don't get it.

"After the game we walked in to do the interviews with Brian Moore, the ITV man, and we agreed that — even though it said my name on the scoreboard — we would watch the replay and decide who should have it.

"We watched and Lou's shot was going nowhere near the goal until it hit me. So we decided it was mine. But now Lou has changed his tune. As far as I am concerned, it's mine. It says so in the books."

Two years later, Greenhoff broke Liverpool hearts with a goal in a semi-final replay and United were back at Wembley to face Arsenal.

"You walk out of that tunnel with a lump in your throat," he recalled. "You see the blue sky first — always blue — and then the red and white scarves. Amazing."

But this time there was no happy ending. Just back from injury, Greenhoff played poorly and, after United scored two late goals to claw back a 2-0 deficit, Graham Rix crossed beyond goalkeeper Gary Bailey for Alan Sunderland to poke in one of the Cup's most famous winning goals for Arsenal.

"Afterwards we were subdued," said Greenhoff. "But our captain Martin Buchan went right up to Gary Bailey and said: 'I always knew your bloody left arm was shorter than the other'.

"It was harsh but he was convinced he was right."

[Olgrligm]

It's sad. A real legend working in a factory in Stoke.

That comment about the over-rated, careless, drug-addled ponce Ferdinand just shows how ridiculous it is.

[craig67]

He'd walk into the England team now,even with both legs broken and his eyes poked out.And we wonder how far we have fallen.

[JoeinOz]

A true Stoke City legend. Is there anything the club could do for him? Benefit match perhaps? I know it might mean if you do it for him you do it foe all ex players on hard times BUT Jimmy is a bit special.

[Dallas Cowboy]

I find it hard to believe that he is 61.

For me, Jimmy Greenhoff will always be 26, teamed up with Big John and latching on to through balls from Dobing and Eastham.

[Pedropotter]

Good idea Joe.

[JoeinOz]

Thing about Jimmy is the nature of him leaving means we never got the chance to give him a good send off. Perhaps something could happen now? Even if he goes on the pitch at HT in a game to get some applause it'd be nice. On the last day at The Vic v Brazil he got a huge roar. That was pleasing because I wonder if he is aware of the affection so many of us feel for him. I wrote something for the oatie earlier this season and Jimmy was significant in it. I wonder if he read it.

[stockportpotter]

I was talking to his son in the boozer the other week and told him that i have never seen him play but stillthat he was a legend at our club. He said that his Dad loved his time at Stoke and that he still feels a lot for the club.

[roloman]

I opened the paper on the morning of my 20th birthday to find that we'd sold him to Man Ure. What a way to screw up your day! A genius. A legend. Good luck to you James.

[albanianstokie]

Maybe the supporters club could arrange some sort of benefit evening for him, a chance for the fans to give a bit back to one of our greatest ever players. Or possibly a special edition of the oatcake, with some of the proceeds going to Jimmy?

Thoughts anyone?

[Admin]

It's disappointing that the article (quelle suprise!) only just about managed to fit the word "Stoke" in there once. Typical Man Ure obsessed content.

Good to see that Jimmy is still about though - I can never forget the sheer joy he brought to me as a young Stoke City supporter. He was a living god.

[stockportpotter]

Thought a similar thing Albanianstokie. Could the club not create a position for him at the club similar to Terry Conroy's?

[Long-time Stoke Fan]

I'm sure the taunts at work were not from Stoke fans. For anyone who was lucky enough to see him back in the 70's, he is and always will be a STOKE CITY legend. He scored some cracking goals for Stoke. I remember the one he scored at Old Trafford 1971 in the Huddersfield 2nd replay in front of the stretford end full of stokies. Also the diving header at Derby when we won 2-1 ( ?) and should have won the league in 74-75 season. A true STOKE legend who should have finished his career with us.

[albanianstokie]

He probably would had the Butler street stand not blown off!!!

I think it would be great if the club could do something for him. Surely some sort of hospitality position would be possible??

[GeordieDave]

Greenhoff was my hero, I even wrote to Jim'll Fix It in 1973 and 1974 asking to meet him. Never heard back. I cried for days after we sold him and even shifted my allegiances to Man Utd for a couple of years until my old man beat it out of me.

This is a sad, sad article.

I do take issue with the comments about Ferdinand. The lad making the mocking comments knows nowt about football. Rio F is a superb player, a real gem of a defender. I'll confess he is a dopey cunt, thick as fuck and an appalling communicator. He is however a marvellous footballer.

[mumf14]

Wow....Hasn't Jimmy changed...I would never have recognised him.

Still an absolute all time legend of the finest order for me.

There's not been one like him since...Thorne,Stein,Fuller....none of them come even close...Believe me.

[GeordieDave]

Smudge, the article is about Greenhoff winning the cup (and losing) the cup with Man Utd and his role at OT tomorrow. Why should it mention Stoke? Its not a biography of Greenhoff and its only been covered by the papers due to the Shit v Arse game tomorrow.

I scratch my head sometimes. It mentions our two SF defeats. Is that not enough for an article about Man Utd and the FA Cup ties tomorrow?

[petershiltonsmini]

That article makes me very sad. To think of thick w4nkers taking the piss out of my first sporting hero makes me so angry. He was and still is a true stoke legend. Like many on here I remember the hurt I felt when he was sold to manure who I have hated ever since.

[Davef]

I'll never forget the day he made his debut for Man Utd. He appeared on Football Focus at lunchtime with his brother because the TV were making a big deal out them playing in the same team.

Brian looked really excited, but Jimmy couldn't muster any enthusiasm whatsoever and just sat there with a face a mile long.

He probably does now look back on that FA Cup Final victory over Liverpool as one of his greatest memories, but he WAS devastated to leave Stoke at the time.

A true Stoke City hero.

[albanianstokie]

I wish I could have seen him play. I was too young and so have only seen the odd video.

[future]

The best volleyer of a ball i've ever seen.

[mumf14]

Future...Absolutely.

Tommy Docherty "He was the best player I ever signed or worked with.."

He once repeated that to me personally at Manchester Airport.

[followyoudown]

mumf14 said:

Future...Absolutely.

Tommy Docherty "He was the best player I ever signed or worked with.."

He once repeated that to me personally at Manchester Airport.

Well he'd have difficulty repeating it to you at the Victoria Ground wouldn't he ;D

[y_oh_y_delilah]

Jimmy now works matchdays as a host in the Red Cafe at Old Trafford.

I've had the pleasure of a couple of long conversations with the 'great man' (corporate hospitality thingys on European nights, in case you were wondering) and to this day he reiterates that if it had been up to him, he'd have never left, but unfortunately at the time some idiot forgot to insure the Butler Street roof and the rest is history.

[GeordieDave]

This is a sad sad sad story. It does however pose a bit of a modern dilemma. Why should footballers from the past (say 1950-1990s) get any kind of "benefit"?

Greenhoff had a good life, he made a decent wage that was way, way way beyond the average man and he played until his mid 30s from memory and had several clubs.

He invested his money in an insurance business I believe and made a good living from that after football. Although it evidently went tits up in the end.

Why should he get a benefit at Stoke?

Hudson is a perfect example. I loved Hudson, he was superb. But I think its fair to say the fucker pissed his fortune up the wall. Well most of it.

He was (allegedly) an arrogant cunt who didnt give a fuck about the working man, much happier to large down the West End with El Tel, Osgood etc

I was in the Waddo suite at the Vic for his home-coming game in 1984. I seem to recall people moaning he wouldnt sign programmes.

These players took nowhere near the kind of the money out of the game that modren players do. But they still earned c10/15/20 times as much as the "average" fan that came to watch them.

And although I have no evidence, other than common sense, one imagines a lot of envelopes exchanged hands in the 70s with cash the tax man never even knew about.

Its sad mind, especially when you see one of your own like Jimmy down in the dumps, but he seems to have handled it with great dignity.

Unlike Hudson who never stops moaning that Chelsea wont let him in for free.

[Olgrligm]

Didn't something go wrong with that insurance business that nearly resulted in him going to prison? That's what I'd heard.